The Benefits of Adoption

The number of children in the world looking for a happy home is heartbreaking. In the U.S. alone there are more than 100,000 kids in foster care waiting to be adopted, ranging in age from less than a year to 21 years old.

There are countless benefits to adopting a child, both for the adopter and adoptee, and since November is National Adoption Awareness Month, I wanted to share some of those benefits with you. If you or someone you know is considering adoption but is still on the fence about it, I hope you’ll share this information with them.

Advantages for Adopted Children

• Having committed and supportive parents who can provide for them emotionally and financially in a happy, safe and secure home
• An extended family to love and nurture them
• Access to healthcare and medication
• An opportunity to receive a good education
• Studies show that adopted children have greater health, get involved in extracurricular activities, and are as well-adjusted as their peers

Advantages for Adoptive Familes

• Knowing that they are changing someone’s life and giving them opportunities they probably would not otherwise have
• Experiencing the joy of adding another (or first) child to their family

Adopting a child is not a decision that should be taken lightly, and there are many questions you should first ask yourself before deciding to do so to determine if you are emotionally and financially prepared for the responsibility. But, if you do decide to adopt, you will be changing not only that child’s life, but also your own, and that of those closest to you, for the better.

To help get you started, here are some resources for those seeking to adopt:

• http://www.adopt.org/
• http://www.howtoadopt.org/
• http://adoptionsupport.org/
• http://www.adoptuskids.org/
• http://www.modernfamilycenter.org/adoption-support/

Do you have a story to share about how adoption has changed your life or the life of someone you know? How about suggestions for people looking to adopt but not knowing where to start? Please leave your feedback in the comments!